Myanmar’s military regime is forcing internally displaced people (IDPs) from more than 20 displacement camps in Sittwe town to return to their homes.

Some 90 village administrators in Arakan State’s Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships who recently submitted resignations have agreed to return to their posts at the request of the United League of Arakan (ULA), the armed wing of the Arakan Army (AA).

Fierce fighting between the military and anti-regime groups led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) has been ongoing for three days in a row in Taungzun Village, part of Kayin (Karen) State’s Kyainnseikgyi Township, forcing at least 2,000 locals to flee.

The Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement on January 1 warning all civil servants working under the Myanmar junta in Papun Township, Kayin (Karen) State, to resign from their jobs within the next 10 days.

Corn growers along the Laymyo River in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township are suffering losses due to increased production costs and a poor harvest year.

The military’s recent extension of a unilateral ceasefire agreement with Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups — to now nominally remain in effect until the end of 2023 — is “a charade” and “ridiculous,” critics say, as the military has done little to show restraint after declaring the initial ceasefire and subsequent extensions.

Two out of three local men who were detained near the Maha Myatmuni Buddha Image in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, on August 1, have reportedly been released by the military.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance said in its statement that the dictatorship can be rooted out only if the people are united.

The increase in salt farmers is due to the lack of alternative employment opportunities in Arakan State in the aftermath of Myanmar’s military coup and renewed fighting in Arakan State.

The junta said in a statement that it would cease fighting from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, except for cases in which defence, security and administrative mechanisms are obstructed.

A Grade 10 student was killed in an attack by a wild elephant in Wachillah Village, part of Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township, on Saturday, according to residents.

In a New Year’s speech on Sunday, the acting president of the National Unity Government (NUG), Duwa Lashi La, called 2023 an important year for the revolution against Myanmar’s military regime and a turning of political fortunes.

A university student and a motorcycle taxi driver who were detained on November 1 at the Kyeinchaung security checkpoint in Maungdaw, Arakan State, and charged under the Unlawful Associations Act were released on Sunday, according to family members.

Because some 100 village administrators in Arakan State’s Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships have recently submitted their resignation letters, residents living in the affected townships are reportedly facing difficulties in administrative matters involving everything from travel to ID cards to simply going to work.

The verdict in a high-profile Sittwe murder case was postponed on December 30, according to family members of the accused. 

Five ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that are members of the Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST) have agreed to the election that Myanmar’s military regime plans to hold next year.

Displaced residents of Tinma Village in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, continue to demand that the regime arrange for their return amid an informal ceasefire between the military and the Arakan Army (AA).

At least 10 people were reportedly injured in a bomb blast at a wedding reception in Waidi Village, part of Tanintharyi Region’s Launglon Township, on December 29.

A business owner in Thandwe Township has provided part-time jobs for students from the Government Technical Institute (GTI) in the town during their holidays so that they can have an income and learn to make good use of their time.